"I learned that service truly knows no borders! I learned that the world is broken, divided, and unjust, but that service and solidarity allow us to find hope, compassion, faith, and love in the most adverse situations."

Community Development | Community Voluntourism

Voluntourism as a Development Tool

In the 35 years of trial and error working in grass-roots community development, Via International learned as an organization about the power of programs that were responsive to locally defined needs and called for the leadership of local residents. During this era, the programs were always accompanied by visiting volunteers who brought much-needed resources and labor to the local initiatives.

After many years of experience in the US/Mexico border region engaging local community with visiting volunteers, Via International is partnering with additional communities and organizations to support the development of volunteer travel in new locations through Voluntours.

Via International has identified specific principles for designing integrated Voluntours in order to support improved quality of life for local communities and engaging visitors in meaningful community-defined initiatives: